Tractor-vehicle.



E. HARWOUU.

TRACTOR VEHIFLEI APPLICATION FILED JUNE Is. \512.

- 1,246,742. PatenisedNov. 13, 1917.

A TTORNEY INYEWTOR W UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.-

ELMER HARWOOD, OF GRANITE FALLS, WASHINGTON.

TRACTOR-VEHICLE Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d No z 13 1917 Application filed June 18,1917. Serial No. 175,264.

To all whomz'if may concern:

Be it known that I, Emusn HAmvoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Granite Falls, in the county of Snohomish and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1 n Tractor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

3 This invention relates to' caterpillar vehicles and has for its principal object to pro-' vide an improved and novel type of'caterpillar vehicle construction which embodies improved tractor chain units. Another bjcct oft-my invention is-to provide an 1mp roved and novel chain construction'for ;c, aterpillar vehicles.

" )ther objects will appear as my inveh:

-- p'anying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caterpillar truck showing several links of new improved chain in poslt'on. Fig. 2 is a plan of the truck runner. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of one of thechain links. Fig.4 is a side elevation of same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates a truck side frame.-

A pair of these truck side-frames are joined together by meansof struts 2 to form a truck. T he truck may be'providcd with holsters or other means of supporting a load. ,The side frames 1 are each provided with an attending central rib 3 wh'ch'extends out beyond the tread surface of side frames. '1lu-'eaterpillar chain is formed-of a series of similar link units which are joined together iuto an Cllfll0SS, ',:|ttlIl. The

link-units include a body 4 having upstanding: and parallel sides 5. The parallel sides a are triangular in sha'pcand arc o 'ipositely disposed. From the wider end of eachside,

a stationary stub shaft (3 extends inwardly and is secured to the side by means'of a shoulder and a nut 7. Upon each stub shaft, a roller 8 is revoluhly mounted. it, will be noted that the inner ends of roi'wrs 8 lie in i'separate planes whichare some little distion is more fully explained in the follow- I inc specification, illustrated in the accom-.

tance apart. A chain is formed of the links as just described by hinging lugs 9 on one end of each link to lugs 10 on the other end' of each link.

, The rib"3 of the side frame fits between the'ends of rollers 8 and holds the chain in place on. the side frame. The

rollers 8' bear against ,1 theside 'frames on either side of rib ,3 and roll around theside framei 'The-back -"of each linkd forms the tread portionof-Ithe" chain whichcomes in contact Wltll the ground. .The units of my chain are simple and economical of menufactureas each unit -isprefer ably a drop forging upon which'the ollers are mounted. I

The triangular shap 7 l l f' hi'ch 'iis easily aecessible in all its parts. 1

embodiment of. my invention, 1 am aware that many minor-changes therein willreadily suggestthemselves to others skilled in the art without departing" from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I therefore desire to avoid being limited to the'exact form shown and' described. Having described my invention, what" I cla mas new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1.- In a caterpillar chain, the combination of a link having triangular and upstanding parallel sides, a pair of s'milar rollers, one of which is revolubly mounted on the inside fthe sides make a; 66],:-

W hile I have showii a' partic l f f a of each of said sides,- theendsfot said rollers lying in parallel planesv whlgll nrespaced apart,- and means for joining similar links to one anothei'z' r 2. A caterpillar chain link comprisin a flat body, oppositely disposed parallel si es, stub shafts extending inwardly from opposite ends of each of said sides, similar rollers, one of each of which is revolubly being of such length that their inner ends lie in parallel planes which are spaced somewhat apart, and lug means'on either endof said sides, whereby'a series of similar links may be connected into a chain.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

ELMER HARWOOD. 

